Saturday, January 30, 2016

Hirshhorn and Latin American artists

Since 2014, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library (HMSG) has received grants totalling $15,000 to catalog materials of Latin American artists.

Details here: https://blog.library.si.edu/2016/01/new-to-the-hirshhorn-library-latin-american-artists/

Interesting that one of the things that they have collected is a recent catalog of Cuban artist Sandra Ramos show in New York. At the same time, the Hirshhorn has not once, but twice been offered original paintings by Ramos as gifts from two separate collectors and both times the museum has declined them.

Most unusual vintage watercolor at auction

Someone in Florida has this most unusual watercolor that I did at the University of Washington School of Art in 1977 as part of some class assignment.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WATERCOLOR-PAINTING-BY-F-LENNOX-CAMPELLO-ORIGINAL-SIGNED-DATED-/182007430865?

It was an early exploration of my interest in tattoos as art and a predecessor to my current "Written on the Body" series. It has a starting bid of $150, which is a steal for works of that period.

Bid on it here.

Wanna go to an opening tonight?

Renée Stout: Tales of the
Conjure Woman

American University Museum
at the Katzen Arts Center

January 26 - March 13, 2016

Opening Reception: Tonight, Saturday, January 30, 2016, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Renée Stout: Tales of the Conjure Woman opens at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center on January 30, 2016 and will remain on view through March 13, 2016. A gallery talk with the artist will take place on Saturday, January 30, 5-6pm and opening reception will take place 6 - 9pm.

The exhibition features recent work by Washington, DC-based Renée Stout, who is best known for her exploration of vestigial retentions of African cultural traditions as manifested in contemporary America.

For many years, the artist has used the alter ego Fatima Mayfield, a fictitious herbalist/fortuneteller, as a vehicle to role-play and confront issues such as romantic relationships, social ills, or financial woes in a way that is open, creative, and humorous. The exhibition focuses on the artist's assumed role through an array of works in various media. As Stout explains, "The common thread running through bodies of my work of the past several years is the continuing need for self-discovery and the need to understand and make sense of human motives and the way we relate and respond to each other."

Art Scam Alert!

Beware of this scammer:

Kenneth Anderson (kandy1111@outlook.com)
Hi there,
I'm an art lover/collector and I'm collecting a few pieces for my new house. I came across your artworks and I find them captivating. I would love to have some of your pieces. Send me pictures and info about your available works including their sizes,materials and prices so I can make an order.
Thanks,
Kenneth.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Paint Annapolis Call for Artists

Paint Annapolis is a five-day juried plein air painting competition May 30-June 5, with exhibition to follow until June 12. $15,000 cash awards.

Entry is open to artists around the world. 30 artists will be accepted.

Upload three images online - Deadline 16 Feb 2016.

Entry fee.

Details: 410-268-4566 OR http://www.paintannapolis.org OR info@mdfedart.org

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Sonoma Ballet Conservatory Drawings (1992-1993)

From 1992-1993 I was lucky enough to live in Sonoma, California (I was the last XO of the now-closed Naval Security Group Activity, Skaggs Island), in a cool house across from the Fire Station. My two daughters used to take classes at the Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, and like most of those places that are usually labors of love, they were always trying to raise funds through bake sales, etc.

I came up with the idea of doing some drawings of the students and then have an exhibition of the drawings at my then dealer (Presidio Gallery, also in Sonoma and closed many years ago). The gallery agreed to the exhibition and that most of the profits from sales would go to the school.

Story in the Sonoma Index-Tribune about the show

Needless to say, all the work sold within a few minutes of the opening, as parents scrambled to get the drawing where their daughter was included. There was even some controversy, as the matriarch of one of Sonoma's oldest wine families had called the gallery prior to the opening and requested to buy all the works where her grand daughter was included. She faxed the gallerist a photo of little Amber (this was 1993... remember faxes?), and several of the pieces sold sight unseen!

The other parents were justifiably pissed, and I was very glad that I had nothing to do with the deal, and my poor dealer had a lot of explaining to do, especially to some of the other Sonoma wine blue bloods.

There were around 80 drawings all together in the exhibition - about 40 framed and 40 shrink wrapped in flat files - all sold! Below is a sampling of the show from some recently digitized slides.

Sonoma Ballet Conservatory 1992-1993 Drawing by F. Lennox Campello

Sonoma Ballet Conservatory by F. Lennox Campello
24x18 inches. Charcoal and Conte on Paper, 1993
In a private collection in Sonoma, CA